CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2011 Sonata has a seriously defective engine that seizes without warning. It was awarded the dubious honor of being the first CarTalk / CarComplaints Turd of the Week in late September 2015.
A class action lawsuit was filed in May 2015 against Hyundai that claims the 2.4L Sonata engine is defective. More info here.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
20 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 1
Average Mileage:
50,893 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the steering wheel moved while attempting to drive the vehicle. The air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 174,000.
The steering is loose. When I turn the steering wheel, it doesn't respond right away. It makes a click sound when it catches and steering responds. This happens while driving all the time. Its like waiting a gear to catch or engage before the wheels respond to the steering. Appears to be getting worse / more loose.
Steering coupler caused "clunking" sound while driving from under dash and in steering column. When I took this to dealer, by describing the sound they were able to tell me my make and model and said it was a known issue.
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shook violently and became difficult to manueuver without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering shaft coupler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Steering is making knocking/clunking sound with vibration, and has significant play either left or right while driving/turning. When driving on city streets the clunking is significantly worse, and I recently drove down a gravel road which vibrations in the steering made the vehicle difficult to control even at low speed ( <5mph). This is a 2011 mom driven, part time driver vehicle, with only 46,878 miles on the odometer. I have owned many vehicles with excessively higher miles that have had no steering issues such as this. This is obviously a manufacture/design/quality control issue, especially after researching and seeing all of the other similar complaints. I am due to take the vehicle into the dealer for 2 other recalls next week. I will bring it up to the Hyundai mechanic and see what kind of response I get. Research on the internet state that the problem is most likely a "rubber steering coupler"? I thought I had taken it in for a recall for something similar, but supposedly it had nothing to do with this part. It's funny that my wife noticed the noise shortly after the last recall about a year ago, and the knocking/clunking has slowly gotten worse and more frequent.
- Saint Louis, MO, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Had issues of knocking/rattling noise while driving or hitting bumps. Dealer told me it was the steering spring coupling. Had it replaced and less than one year, the problem has arisen again. At first, the rattling sound would be heard only while driving over small speed bumps or uneven terrains such as a brick driveway, but now it can be felt and heard while driving either on the freeway or local. There is also a clicking noise when turning the steering wheel to the right or left. Again, this part was replaced less than one year ago for $300+ and the problem has arisen again.
When driving steering column rattles and shakes when braking or going over bump or pot-holes.it also makes a clicking noise when turning wheel at rests like something is loose.
I noticed quite a bit of play and a clicking noise in the steering of my son's car. Upon taking it to my wonderful mechanic, learned he's seen at least 4 Hyundai Sonatas in the past month with the same issue. He said he believed it was a recall so I should take it to the dealer. When talking to the service manager at the dealership, he was almost certain of the problem as he's seen more of the same than my mechanic. He said it's not a recall and I was misinformed (but kudos to my honest and forthright mechanic for not being greedy). The problem, both of them told me, a wearing of the pictured rubber gear deep inside the steering column. My mechanic showed meld the old and new parts noting if this had been left and continue to wear, the steering wheel would have turned but the tires would not have! I am sickened this recall has not come to fruition. Hyundai needs to expedite the issue of a recall before more people are injured and/or killed.
While driving, the steering column area rattles and makes noises. While steering on a turn at a street or gently at a slow speed (like in my driveway), the steering wheel does not feel like it used to and it clicks. In 25 years of driving vehicles, I have never experienced this defect or safety issue.
Rattling sound coming from left front area of car when driving, especially over bumps. Dealer says coupling in steering shaft is worn out and must be replaced. Steering feels too loose. Car has only 38,000 miles on it and this part should not need to be replaced at this point.
Takata recall for an issue in the steering column of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Steering feels loose, makes a clicking noise and vibrates when the wheel is turned or even when you just hit a bump. Very well known issue with anyone who has a Sonata. Dealership states that it is not a recall yet as the rubber coupler wears out.
Clicking noise in the steering column, that gets really bad when going over bumps and makes the car hard to control while driving. When car was taken to dealership they advised they believe a recall will happen in the future because so many cars are having this problem. They say its the rubber steering coupler.
Hyundai need to recall the steering column I spoke with a employee at Hyundai and they explained this is a cheap part Hyundai knows is tearing up and it makes steering wheel shake uncontrollably at 45 plus miles per hour. And it is causing other issues. Hyundai said part cost like $10 but we have to pay $400 to have part changed. And at the time I was speaking to a employee he informed me he was putting one on at that present moment. Certain models are not covered and thus isn't fair if this happens to all Hyundai Sonatas
Brake lights-my back brake lights won't work..wiring problem" steering wheel-my steering assembly is loose and makes a loud clicking sound..the dealership said it was a gear that needs to be replaced.. air bags- I was in a wreck and the air bags never deployed..wasbhit hard..also now a default air bag light is on"
Knocking or clicking or rattling sound is heard any time I drive over 50 mph and especially when slowing down from highway speeds, in which case the noise becomes very loud and the steering column physically shakes. I feel endangered whenever I drive this car. It is a hazard and a potential life-threatening defect. I put today's date but this has been going on for months and is now starting in my wife's car (same make model year) as well.
My vehicle's steering makes a clicking noise while stationary and moving. I took it into the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and they knew about the problem and the cost to repair as soon as I mentioned the symptoms. The problem is a steering coupler. The csr was surprised that Hyundai had not made a recall on this problem since he had seen quite a few cars of this make/model/year with the same problem. The coupler is made of plastic and wears down over time. My car is 6 years old and now has about 88,000 miles on it. The repair quoted was $404. I am concerned that this is may be a safety issue. I have also contacted Hyundai customer complaint and logged case number 9975977.
The steering column makes a clanking noise when turning in either direction or hitting bumps in the road. I called Hyundai customer service and was told that my vehicle was not covered under the recall as it was made after the cars in the recall even though it has the same problem. It is a plastic gear that can cause the steering to fail. Why not in the recall?
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise progressing from the area of the steering wheel when turning the steering wheel to the left or right. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V426000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no solution. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 03/21/17
The vehicle is in motion and every single bump or imperfection in the road results in the steering column clicking and rattling. Doesn't matter what U barely go over but it clicks constantly and rattles constantly. There should be a recall on this! it seems to be a very prevalent problem in Hyundai owners of the Sonata.
The steering column is making a clicking noise when I drive and or hit bumps, there was a recall #10V457000 Oct 2010 for steering gear box shaft not tightened properly and possibly to be replaced- this recall falls under teh production time of my car however I had not purchased the car when teh recall came out so was never notified and now I have the problem and am very concerned that I will have an accident if the sterring column fails- the dealer said they would charge me$800 to replace some part that they have heard of same complaints- Hyundai should cover my car for this recall how do I get that to happen
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Parkville, MD, USA